Siheyuan: Relieve stress and relieve worries

Chapter 336: Encounter with Xiao Bei
He Yuzhu spent less and less time in the restaurant. He Yumei said that he had fallen. Only He Yushui and He Yumei, as managers of the two restaurants, were constantly busy. The long-term operation allowed the two female managers to grow rapidly. Looking at them now, they were definitely the image of female bosses.

He Yuzhu has a tendency to develop into Yan Jiekuang. He is more and more willing to chat with neighbors at home and drink tea when he has nothing to do. Now he has set up a chess stall in the Central Courtyard and plays chess with Yi Zhonghai when he has nothing to do. Yi Zhonghai is always happy to accompany He Yuzhu.

Yi Zhonghai may have really figured it out and no longer took any action. He followed Li Cuilan and would go shopping for groceries together when he had nothing to do, and then come back to have some wine. When He Yuzhu was around, he would call He Yuzhu over, and when He Yuzhu was not around, he would drink by himself. He lived a very carefree life.

The situation was different for the two families in the backyard. Liu Haizhong continued to live in dire straits, and his hair was visibly turning white. Zhao Yue'e was better off, but she only did the work of a nanny and had to work non-stop every day. As soon as Zhao Yue'e saw Li Cuilan, she kept complaining, saying that she was so old and still suffering like this.

Ever since the street office clarified the demolition rumors, Xu Damao's family never asked Yan Bugui to buy a house again. Now many dormitory buildings are under construction. When the commercial housing in Fangjiazhuang appeared, it greatly attracted the attention of the younger generation. They simply looked down on the old and dilapidated courtyard houses and always tried to move into higher buildings. At this time in the old city, tube-shaped buildings were still one of the mainstream.

Yan Jiekuang did the opposite. He had more and more courtyard houses, especially in Maoer Hutong. He bought five courtyard houses at one time, and one was in Keyuan, which was next to Wanrong's former residence.

Yan Jiekuang did not hide the purchase of these houses from Yan Bugui. Now Yan Bugui had an additional job. He was responsible for inspecting each courtyard every day with a bunch of keys, helping the repairmen to open the doors and lock them at night.

The reason why Yan Bugui was so active was because Yan Jiekuang said that after these houses were repaired, except for a few with historical roots, all of them would be rented out, and the rental fees would be used as pensions for the two elderly people.

Yan Bugui feels that his life is getting more and more promising now. Yang Ruiping is always smiling. When he has nothing to do, he goes to the courtyard to chat about family matters. When he returns home, he cooks a meal for the old man and takes care of the children.

Yan Yongqing got married this year. If things go well, four generations will be living under the same roof next year.

Yan Jiekuang carefully looked at the construction plan and progress plan of the winery. Wang Xuan was drinking tea and waiting beside him. Yan Jiekuang said, "It's okay, but the construction period is too long. There are some small projects that don't need to be done by ourselves. Can we outsource them? What do you think?"

After listening to this, Wang Xuan opened a door instantly. It was because the engineering team was short of manpower that he prepared two plans with a nervous mood and sought Yan Jiekuang's opinion.

Wang Xuan said: "This is a good idea. I will set up an outsourcing department and see how to select qualified and reliable outsourcing personnel."

Yan Jiekuang said: "In fact, it is not difficult to make money, but you have to be willing to spend it. If everyone makes money, things will be done well."

Wang Xuan stayed with Yan Jiekuang for a while and then left.

Yan Jiekuang thought about it and called Jia Dang, asking her to set up an inspection department as soon as possible to supervise the outsourcing and procurement processes of various departments. This was a very critical arrangement.

Yan Jiekuang had just hung up the phone when Xixi came in with her short legs. She looked at Yan Jiekuang and said, "Dad, when are we going to grandma's house?"

Yan Jiekuang picked up Xixi and asked, "Why did you think of going to grandma's house?"

Xixi smiled and said, "The big cat wants to eat fish. Really. I asked it and it meowed. Isn't it what you said that a big cat's meow means 'yes'?"

At this time, the big cat walked in gracefully and meowed twice. Xixi was stunned when he heard it. Yan Jiekuang said, "It's you, the greedy little cat, who wants to eat fish. You always wrongly accuse the big cat." The big cat followed with a meow.

Xixi hid in her father's arms embarrassedly. Yan Jiekuang said, "Where's Xiaohai? I'll take you fishing, okay?"

Xixi suddenly became happy and said, "Xiaohai is watching TV, I'll go call him." Then, she broke free and ran to the backyard. Yan Jiekuang shouted from behind, "Slow down!"

After a while, Yan Jiekuang set off with his brother and sister and headed straight for Shichahai.

Arriving at Shichahai, Yan Jiekuang parked the car and looked around. Wow, after all these years, there has never been a shortage of people fishing in Shichahai. There are so many people.

Xixi and Xiaohai each held their father's clothes. Yan Jiekuang walked for a long time before he saw a place where there was no one. He set up a small stool and started threading the fishing line. It took him a long time to finish. Yan Jiekuang felt that he had no talent at all in fishing. After casting the hook, Yan Jiekuang just sat there quietly.

Xiaohai and Xixi were playing with sand by the river. After a while, they came back to ask if they had caught any fish. This made Yan Jiekuang laugh and cry. If they didn't take the bait, his image as a great father would collapse.

Unfortunately, Yan Jiekuang really had no talent at all. In the afternoon, the two little guys were tired from playing, but they still didn't catch any fish. Just when Yan Jiekuang was frowning, a silver bell-like laughter sounded beside him, saying, "After all these years, how come you still don't have a talent for fishing? You should go to the river to fish."

Yan Jiekuang turned around and saw a fashionable woman. Her dress was different from other women in Beijing. She was wearing a pink jacket, blue jeans, a pair of white Nike shoes, a backpack, and had a ponytail. She looked very familiar.

Yan Jiekuang asked hesitantly: "Hello, have we met before? You look very familiar. May I ask your name?"

The woman burst into laughter again and said, "Old Third, I don't recognize you anymore, but I recognized you at first sight."

Yan Jiekuang took a closer look, suddenly realized what was going on, and shouted, "Pang Xiaobei, you are Pang Xiaobei, you are back?"

Pang Xiaobei went up to Yan Jiekuang and gave him a hug, which immediately made Yan Jiekuang feel confused. Pang Xiaobei said, "Come back for a meeting. You have to go back in a few days."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Come on, I'll treat you to a meal. I'll treat you to hometown food. Oh, I forgot to introduce you to our family's fifth, sixth, Xiaohai and Xixi. Come on, say hello to auntie."

The two children stared with their eyes wide open and called out obediently, "Hello, Auntie."

Pang Xiaobei squatted down and said, "Hello, you guys too. Nice to meet you. I'll give you a gift later. Let's go."

Yan Jiekuang took Pang Xiaobei directly to Chunfeng Tower and entered the special private room. Yan Jiekuang said, "You stay here with my two babies. I will cook for you myself."

Pang Xiaobei was very surprised and asked, "Is this restaurant yours?"

Yan Jiekuang nodded and asked, "Are there any dietary restrictions? What do you like to eat?"

Pang Xiaobei said: "Actually, what I miss most is the barbecue you took me to eat when I was a child. I can do everything else."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and said, "Wait a minute, it will be ready in a moment."

Chen Zhaodi was at the door. Yan Jiekuang came out and said, "This is my friend. Bring me some drinks. Oh, do you have Coke?"

Chen Zhaodi shook her head and said, "It's sold in the store across the street."

Yan Jiekuang said, "Go buy some iced drinks. I'll go to the kitchen to cook."

Yan Jiekuang went to the kitchen and changed into the chef's uniform. Wei Xiaobao was very surprised. It was the first time he saw the chef personally cooking and entertaining guests after taking on the responsibility for several years.

Wei Xiaobao happily helped while Yan Jiekuang made four dishes. While preparing the ingredients, he explained the details to Wei Xiaobao. Not only Wei Xiaobao, but everyone in the kitchen listened attentively.

The shredded venison and roasted Uyghur lamb are typical examples of palace barbecue, with very complex ingredients. Yan Jiekuang cooked them methodically, and then made a dish of sweet-scented osmanthus fish strips and a dish of braised fish lips, and paired them with two vegetarian dishes of shrimp roe, winter bamboo shoots, and wild rice stem with pepper oil. Yan Jiekuang took off his chef's uniform, told the waiter to serve the dishes, and went to the front desk to choose a bottle of red wine before returning to the private room.

When Yan Jiekuang entered the room, Pang Xiaobei and the two children had already started eating. When they saw Yan Jiekuang coming in, they said a little embarrassedly, "It was mainly because it smelled too good. I couldn't help it."

As Xixi stuffed venison into her mouth, she said, “Dad makes the best food.”

Yan Jiekuang said, "Isn't it made for you to eat? I don't know what you drink, maybe a little less red wine?"

Pang Xiaobei completely ignored his image, ate with big mouthfuls and nodded.

Yan Jiekuang also started eating, and when they were almost done, Pang Xiaobei said, "Your cooking skills are so good that I can't control my appetite."

Yan Jiekuang smiled and asked, "How is it going? Have you become a naturalized citizen?"

Pang Xiaobei nodded and said, "Yes, I have to inherit my uncle's company, which requires me to become a citizen. I have no choice."

Yan Jiekuang said nonchalantly: "What's the big deal? You'll regret it if you don't join. The welfare benefits there are still world-leading."

Pang Xiaobei said, "Yes, I came back this time at the invitation of the Computer Committee to attend an academic discussion meeting."

Yan Jiekuang thought for a moment and asked, "Is your company in Silicon Valley?"

Pang Xiaobei was stunned at first, then asked, "How do you know? Have you been there?"

Yan Jiekuang shook his head and said, "I have an American partner named Rui Er. I once asked him to buy some stocks. Most of the companies Rui Er recommended were from Silicon Valley."

Pang Xiaobei was very surprised. He took out a business card from his bag, handed it to Yan Jiekuang, and said, "If you have the opportunity to go there, please let me know, otherwise I will be angry with you."

Yan Jiekuang asked for a piece of paper, wrote down his home phone number and address, and gave it to Pang Xiaobei. The two of them began to reminisce about the fun things in their childhood. Even the two little ones listened with gusto. They didn't expect that their father was so playful when he was a child.

They ate until two o'clock in the afternoon, when Pang Xiaobei was about to say goodbye. Yan Jiekuang offered to see her off, and Pang Xiaobei did not refuse. Yan Jiekuang took the children and sent Pang Xiaobei to the Guest House. Pang Xiaobei's visit this time was really of a high standard. It seems that Pang Xiaobei's company is not small.

On the way back, the two children were dividing the loot. They were all Disney dolls, of all kinds, which you really can't buy here.

Back in Yuer Hutong, the children skipped and danced back to their rooms with their gifts. Although the two children still slept in Yan Jiekuang's bedroom, the west bedroom had been divided into two rooms, becoming their exclusive area. Because they saw that their older brothers and sisters all had their own rooms, they specifically asked their father for it.

Yan Jiekuang was in the main hall in the front yard, drinking tea and reading the newspaper. He planned to rest for a while as it would be time to cook and the children would soon be home from school.

Tian Guixiang was cleaning the dishes in the kitchen. She heard Xixi clamoring for fish, so she went to the market to buy some fish. The big cat was lazily lying on the recliner in front of Yan Jiekuang.

When the children came back, Yan Jiekuang got up to cook. He specially made squirrel fish today. Although it was made with carp, it tasted good.

I also made a few other home-cooked dishes, especially the braised pork, which Dapang and Xiaopang have to have for every meal and they never get tired of it.

After a while, Ji Lian came back, washed her hands directly, and then sat down to eat. Xixi whispered to her mother.

As he was talking, Yan Jiekuang noticed that Ji Lian's eyes had changed when she looked at him. He thought to himself, this little cotton jacket is leaking air. She is telling him off.

When the children went back to do their homework, Ji Lian asked while drinking tea, "Which beautiful auntie gave you a big hug?"

Yan Jiekuang spat out his tea and said, "She is an old neighbor in the courtyard. We grew up together. But she went abroad with her family when she was seven or eight years old. She came back to do some business and we met by chance."

Ji Lian rolled her eyes and asked, "What's the name? Have I heard of it?"

Yan Jiekuang quickly said, "Pang Xiaobei, if you don't believe me, ask my mom, my dad, and my brother. They all know."

Ji Lian said, "Okay, I get it, but you can't take the initiative to hug anyone else except me."

Yan Jiekuang said: "Today I was also passive, I didn't dare to move at all."

Ji Lian laughed and said, "I'm telling you, I have eyes."

Yan Jiekuang sighed and said, "I know, the little cotton-padded jacket is leaking."

Ji Lian laughed loudly, and Yan Jiekuang looked at her helplessly.

The next morning, the phone at Yan Jiekuang's house rang. It was Pang Xiaobei, who said he wanted to visit the Siheyuan.

Yan Jiekuang said, "Go ahead, you should know almost everyone here, I'll pick you up."

Yan Jiekuang did not bring the two children this time. He drove to pick up Pang Xiaobei by himself and went straight to the courtyard. As soon as he walked into the courtyard with Pang Xiaobei, Yang Ruiping was stunned at first. Just as he was about to get angry, he heard Pang Xiaobei say, "Aunt Wang, Aunt Yang, I haven't seen you for many years. Do you still recognize me?"

At this time, Widow Wang and Yang Ruiping came over, looked at him carefully for a while and said, "You look familiar. Who are you?"

Pang Xiaobei laughed and said, "I'm Pang Xiaobei, remember?"

The two of them realized it, and Widow Wang shouted, "Oh, you've grown so big, and you're getting more and more beautiful. It's been so many years since I last saw you."

Widow Wang shouted towards the house, "Nianping, Xiaolong, look who's back."

Sun Xiaolong and his wife came out of the house. Sun Xiaolong did not recognize them. Zhou Nianping was with Pang Xiaobei every day at that time. Zhou Nianping hugged Pang Xiaobei and said, "Why did you come back to see me just now? I missed you so much, woo woo."

Pang Xiaobei also shed tears. When they were young, they were the best of friends and inseparable. Sun Xiaolong then recognized Pang Xiaobei. The two of them warmly invited Pang Xiaobei to their home for a visit, and Pang Xiaobei went with them. When Yan Jiekuang saw that he was no longer needed, he turned around and went to the west wing.

(End of this chapter)